Page 83 of The Recovery Coach
“We need to get going here soon,” she said.
Beanie wrapped the deck of cards in a rubber band and set them on the center of the table before standing.“Yeah, we have some errands to do tonight.”
“No, we don’t,” Dylan said.“We have time for like five more games.”
Olivia laughed at the twelve-year-old’s bluntness.
Beanie grimaced, and Daisy joined Olivia and Jake in their laughter.
“Out of the mouths of babes,” she said.
“Ugh, I’m not a little kid,” Dylan complained.
Olivia hugged Daisy, then invaded Beanie’s space.She forced a hug on him.He tentatively returned it.
“You don’t have to lie,” she said.“You can say this is awkward as fuck and you’re ready to leave now.”
Beanie chuckled.“Why is it so awkward?That was weird, right?”
“We’re all having an off day.We love having you.Connor is just tired and cranky.I haven’t had a chance to talk to him in days, so I don’t know what his issue is.But I can almost guarantee it’s not you.”
Daisy pulled her jacket from the back of her chair and slipped it on.“I think you answered the question, babe.You haven’t talked to him in days.”
“We sometimes go months without talking.He’s not that codependent.”
Beanie shrugged and said, “Relationships change.”He ushered his family toward the front door.
“Hell yeah, they do,” Roxie said, following close behind her friends.
“Are we going to your house then?”Toma asked Beanie, not caring about subtlety.It was still early.Olivia wasn’t surprised they wanted to keep game night alive.
“Yes!”Dylan said.Daisy confirmed.
When she closed the door behind their guests, she collapsed on the couch next to Jake.Connor and Valentine were still mysteriously absent.
“You’re going to drain Connor’s social battery as much as they were,” she told Jake.
“Oh, I’m counting on it,” Jake grinned.“Our plan is working.”
“We haven’tdoneanything.”Olivia sighed.
Jake raised his eyebrows.“I have done exactly what I planned.Monopolized your time.Been your friend.”
“You were going to do that regardless.”
“What about you and Lover?Is the fake dating working?”
Valentine rushed through the living room, interrupting their conversation.He stopped to quickly give Jake and Olivia a grin and a thumbs-up.He stood behind the couch and leaned down to whisper in Olivia’s ear.“The plan is working!I have to go because he thinks I’m pissed at him.Don’t baby him.Make him come to you.I’ll text you.”He rushed out the door.
“Did you hear that?”she asked Jake.
Jake nodded.“I still want to know your thoughts, though.Do you feel like it’s working?”
She shrugged.“I don’t know.”Connor had been cranky as fuck, but that could also be because he wasn’t seeing Valentine as much.He hated feeling left out or like someone was mad at him.The guilt over purposely hurting his feelings ate at her gut.
“What do you guys do?”
“It’s been kind of the same as with you.We get out of the house together.Spend time away from Connor.Valentine sends me little presents that are way too much.Connor gets me all glammed up for a date, then Valentine and I spend entire evenings playing games and eating pizza.It’s fun.”
